MEA Sept 2017 cover- Six Construct

MEAMARKETS / September 2017 23 Company: tangramGulf 
 Name: Sandra Woodall 
 Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.tangramgulf.com Address: 2701 Latifa Tower
 Sheikh Zayed Rd 
 Dubai, P.O. Box 88124 UAE
 Telephone: +971 (0) 503 400 372 Building in the Middle East and North Africa g works with its surrounding natural environment. Designs that create spaces that respond to traditional and cultural requirements along with local customs and beliefs, whilst offering sustainable solutions to the growing complexity of contemporary end- user needs.” The firm is constantly looking to promote cutting edge architecture that minimises environmental impact, whilst improving end-user and client built environment, Sandra tells us. “At tangramGulf, we actively seek to continue to apply lessons learned from the past and push beyond existing constraints in testing new materials, systems and ways of delivering a contemporary and meaningful built environment. “These are values that set us apart and which many clients are looking to add, as we move forwards with much more understanding of the damaging effects that global development has had in general and in particular the volume and speed of development that has been undertaken in the UAE over the last couple of decades.” Sandra then highlights the key advantages to being based in UAE and what makes the firm unique. “The variety of project type coupled with the variety of culture and experience within the workforce offers great advantages for both business growth and creativity within the industry. There is a very open minded view from most clients who do not look for traditional or rigid design concepts, but we seek out original and first of a kind solutions. “There is no fear of standing out and being different, but a culture of embracing innovation. This combined with the geographic pull that draws in clients from East and West along with exemplifying all that is possible in a regional context, draws in clients with work in the wider region and more locally based clients who undertake work much further afield. “As a multi-disciplinary organisation, we can offer fully integrated and collaborative services that allows the clients to put their trust into experienced and well qualified staff, who are selected to best suit the skills required for each unique project. Staff who are open minded and creative with experiences from different cultures that we combine into one amalgamated whole, that will test conventions and will innovate.” When working in an industry that is constantly changing, what measures do firms such as take to ensure that they are at the forefront of any emerging developments? Sandra is keen to provide us with the answer. “We keep updated through our wider collaboration with local and regional practice, through speaking at conferences, working with the RIBA Gulf Chapter, identifying new technology and ideas that can support the work that we do as well as the work that we want to do. We take much information from regional publications such as MEA and professional journals that are found in the industry. “Our multi-cultural staff, are all enthusiastic and many are leaders in their fields. It is through their enthusiasm, expertise and need for professional growth that brings fresh and new ideas that allows us to evolve.” In closing, Sandra underlines the most prevalent trends in your industry over the past year and hoe these have impacted the business. She also offers her reflections on the firm’s future plans, into 2017 and beyond. “For us the most striking adaption has been the growth in the North Africa market, which has led to the opening of our newest studio in Algiers, to support the expansion of our client and project base there. “This has been possible through our managing director, Mr. Hamdi Mahmoud’s persistence and personal determination to tackle every problem or challenge head on, which has proved instrumental in overcoming the difficulties that are faced in entering new and little tested markets. “Currently we are involved in developing ‘zero-energy’ designs for facilities that aim to achieve ‘grid-neutral targets’ by incorporating best practice passive sustainable design, site contained renewable resource harvesting and energy production, coupled with a more sustainable energy demand and usage, to improve both design and end-user practices.” Managing Director, Mr Hamdi Mahmoud